Strength and Weakness in A Midsummer Night’s Dream’s Female Characters “And though she be but little, she is fierce” (III.2). In William Shakespeare 's comedy A Midsummer Night 's Dream, women in society are depicted to both possess some limitations that are stereotypically weak while others are depicted to possess more strength than they show in ordinary society. The world around which women lived during this time was full of limiting factors, factors that hinder the full expression of women’s interests. However, Shakespeare’s women are often strong enough to fight through the challenges and succeed. Unfortunately, if a woman fails to be strong, she will conform to tradition and hence submit to the authority of a male-dominated world. Hermia wants to fight for her own, independent love when her
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Titania scorns Oberon by insisting that she must own the young Indian prince, but gets tricked by Oberon about the love between herself and an ass. Helena is acting desperate for her love to Demetrius, thinking women can’t fight actively for love. According to Shakespeare, women are not just figures to be framed by men’s needs; rather, they are capable of reasoning and expressing their desires. However, in A Midsummer Night’s Dream strong women in society carry out the role of shaping new gender norms in society while traditional women are rewarded for submitting to men. Hermia comes out as a strong lady, one who knows exactly what she wants for herself and with a will to do anything to achieve it. She is seen as playing the role of a mature person who can bring change in her society. Her feistiness makes Hermia’s spirit described as a vixen and shrewd. One example of her ambitious character is when her father insists that she marry Demetrius. She knows that he not the right person for her and hence plana to escape with the love of her life. It is important that the audience
Titania scorns Oberon by insisting that she must own the young Indian prince, but gets tricked by Oberon about the love between herself and an ass. Helena is acting desperate for her love to Demetrius, thinking women can’t fight actively for love. According to Shakespeare, women are not just figures to be framed by men’s needs; rather, they are capable of reasoning and expressing their desires. However, in A Midsummer Night’s Dream strong women in society carry out the role of shaping new gender norms in society while traditional women are rewarded for submitting to men. Hermia comes out as a strong lady, one who knows exactly what she wants for herself and with a will to do anything to achieve it. She is seen as playing the role of a mature person who can bring change in her society. Her feistiness makes Hermia’s spirit described as a vixen and shrewd. One example of her ambitious character is when her father insists that she marry Demetrius. She knows that he not the right person for her and hence plana to escape with the love of her life. It is important that the audience